Pac-12 admits to officiating error in Washington State-Cal football game

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Christopher Brown Jr. #34 of the California Golden Bears runs in for a touchdown against the Washington State Cougars at California Memorial Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Washington State lost 33-20 to Cal at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. On Sunday, the Pac-12 acknowledged it cost the Cougars 57 yards because of an officiating error.

After the Bears scored on a Devon Modster pass to Christopher Brown Jr. early in the third quarter to go up 20-11, Washington State’s Travell Harris returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield. The referee threw a flag on the play for hands to the face.

After a crew discussion, the penalty was announced as on “receiving team, No. 15,” Armauni Archie. The Cougars were penalized half the distance to the goal from the spot of the foul and the ball was placed at their 8-yard line.

However, the officials later said the penalty was on Cal’s No. 15, Ben Moos. The 15 yards should have been assessed against the Bears after the kickoff return, meaning the Cougars should have begun their possession at the Cal 35.

The possession ultimately ended at the Bears’ 18 with Blake Massa kicking a 35-yard field goal.

Referee Matt Richards has been suspended for one game for what the conference called in a statement “the breakdown in officiating mechanics and communication.”

Steve Kroner’s main coverage beats for The San Francisco Chronicle’s Sporting Green are WCC basketball, the Giants and the A’s. He occasionally covers the NFL and college football, the NBA and golf. Steve, who joined The Chronicle in November 1998, also works as a copy editor. Before working at The Chronicle, he spent 16 years as a sports producer/reporter for KPIX TV. Born in San Francisco and raised in Millbrae, Steve went to Capuchino High and then to Cal, from which he graduated in 1981 with degrees in journalism and political science.